Feb 5
Bible and Prayer Book: A Reflection on Peace
11 Come, O children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 What man is there who desires life
and loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Turn away from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it. (Psalm 34:11–14)
BCP Daily Lectionary Readings, February 5:
Psalms 93, 96, 34; Isa. 57:14–21; Heb. 12:1–6; John 7:37–46
I like how this segment of Psalm 34 begins, “Come, O children, listen to me…” It’s like a storyteller’s introduction to a tale of wonder, but this tale is one of advice on living a good life. And it’s simple stuff, really. Keep your speech under control, choose evil over good, seek peace. I especially like the way that last one is stated: “seek peace and pursue it.” Don’t just look for peace, pursue it. It’s a more active thing than just not committing acts of violence.
The reading from Isaiah echoes this call to peace:
“Peace, peace, to the far and to the near,” says the LORD.
“There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.” (Isaiah 57:19b, 21)
So the Lord is calling his people to establish peace everywhere, both far and near. And a couple verses later, that stark statement, “There is no peace…for the wicked.” Because that’s how it works in the world, isn’t it? The wicked, those who oppress and exploit other people, are never satisfied with peace, they always want more. So whether it ends in war, or individual acts of violence, peace eludes those who don’t strive for it. I mean, it’s often difficult for those who do strive for peace to achieve it, but those who actively work against peace, make it harder for others to achieve it.
Before he was violently murdered on a cross, the Prince of Peace told his disciples, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you.” And then he told them to not let their hearts be troubled. Peace is what God calls us to embrace, and those who don’t embrace peace are working against that call.
I’d like to wrap up this reflection on peace with this Collect for Peace from the 1979 Book of Common Prayer:
A Collect for Peace
O God, who art the author of peace and lover of concord, in
knowledge of whom standeth our eternal life, whose service
is perfect freedom: Defend us, thy humble servants, in all
assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in thy
defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through
the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
